Description

Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers 2009Artist, lover, wife, mother: can one woman be them all?Born in 1924, Jennet Mallow grew up with a disillusioned mother and a father haunted by memories of war. But Jennet has a talent - and a passion - for art. When she meets the handsome painter David Heaton they begin a tempestuous affair which takes them from the dank terraces of London to a bohemian artistic community in St Ives. But as Jennet's career flourishes, her relationship with David suffers - with potentially tragic consequences . . . 'The most beautiful, accomplished debut I have read for a long time . . . It is a powerful novel by a supremely talented artist' OBSERVER 'Enchanting . . . exquisitely written' DAILY EXPRESS'A masterful portrait of a woman forging an unexpectedly dazzling career against the backdrop of familial duty' EASY LIVINGshow more

About Francesca Kay

Francesca Kay grew up in South-east Asia and India and has subsequently lived in Jamaica, the United States and Germany. Her first novel, An Equal Stillness, won the Orange Award for New Writers, and was shortlisted for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize (Europe and South Asia Region). She lives with her family in Oxford.show more

Review quote

The most astounding success lies in the conjuring up of a lifetime's work - a glorious succession of paintings brought to sustained, poetic life. * ART NEWSPAPER * This is an outstanding literary debut, with masterful variation in style and characterisation of deep insight * BOOKSELLER PAPERBACK PREVIEW * The supple, verbless sentences of Fracesca Kay's accomplished first novel create a sensuous prose full of colour, taste and smell. -- Anthony Cummins * DAILY TELEGRAPH * an absorbing and ambitious debut * GUARDIAN * sensual...Francesca Kay knows - and shows - how good art takes on a life all of its own. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY * An impressive debut novel that paints a vivid portrait of a woman torn between the conflicts of creativity and familial duty. * DAILY EXPRESS * one dazzingly brilliantly executed scene after another...A marvel. * INDEPENDENT * What distinguishes this tale...is Kay's fine balance of romance and realism and her beautiful evocation of how paintings reflect their creator's experiences. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH * A new star has arrived on the literary scene. -- AN Wilson * EVENING STANDARD *show more

Review Text

A new star has arrived on the literary scene. AN Wilson EVENING STANDARDshow more

Rating details

539 ratings

3.81 out of 5 stars

5
29% (156)

4
38% (207)

3
22% (116)

2
8% (41)

1
4% (19)

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